North Island. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
- Park map [PDF] (January 21, 2020)
- Parking and trail locations in Elk Falls Park and on BC Hydro property [PDF] (January 15, 2020)
Getting there
Quinsam Campground at Elk Falls Park is located 3 km north of Campbell River on central Vancouver Island on Hwy 28 toward Gold River. The Elk Falls day-use areas are located 3 km west of the campground off Hwy 28.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers 122 vehicle-accessible campsites. Approximately 25 of these sites border the Quinsam River and the rest are set in a second-growth forest. The Quinsam campground entrance is located on the west side of the Quinsam Bridge. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $22 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Winter camping
First come, first served camping is available during the winter season but no services are provided. Self-register at the park. Fees are payable in cash only.
Fees
| Winter camping fee (per night) | $11 per party |
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Things to do
An extensive 6 km trail system offers a variety of hiking opportunities within Elk Falls Park.
In the day-use area there is a short trail to the magnificent old growth Douglas fir forest. Another system of trails will take you to Elk, Moose and Deer Falls, found along this portion of the Campbell River. Detailed trail maps are located at the day-use areas and in the campground.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
There are swimming holes near the falls at the day-use area of the park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Freshwater fishing in Quinsam and Campbell River, as well as, saltwater and ocean fishing near the town of Campbell River.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Viewing platforms are located at the day-use area near the falls, as well as along the Canyon View Trail. These sites offers spectacular views of the deep rock canyons and waterfalls.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Cycling is permitted on roadways in the park and mountain bike opportunities exist on the pumphouse trails, which connect to the Snowden demonstration forest trail network. The pumphouse trail network is best accessed from near the water tower uphill of the logging road bridge over the Campbell River.
Trail and stunt construction is prohibited.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Elk Falls Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Facilities
Several facilities in the park are wheelchair-accessible or have been designed for park visitors with mobility challenges.
- Elk Falls day-use area – viewpoints and suspension bridge approach:
The paved parking includes stalls that are designated for people with mobility challenges, all pit toilets and most picnic tables are wheelchair-accessible. The trails accessing the first set of viewpoints are designed to a five percent grade or less and have hard packed trail surfaces, park bench resting spots, and safety fencing.
Please note: The stairs, suspension bridge, and the lower viewing areas are not classified as wheelchair-accessible. - Quinsam River fishing and viewing platform:
A flat concrete platform just below the Quinsam River highway bridge provides access to a holding pool for salmon before it enters into the Campbell River. In the fall it holds pink, coho, and chinook while on their way upstream. The trail is graded at more than five percent but it is smooth and can be accessed with wheelchairs, it is a short 60 m away from the parking area, and is located across from the Quinsam River Campground. - Quinsam River Campground:
A number of campsites have wheelchair-accessible picnic tables. The entire campsite has wheelchair-accessible pit toilets located throughout.
There is more Elk Falls Park accessibility information on our accessibility site.
While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. Campfire rings are provided at each campsite. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.
Firewood can be purchased from the park facility operator. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Cold water taps are located in the campground. Taps are shut off during the winter season.
This park has a day-use area, located 3 km west of the campground off Highway 28. This is the closest trail head to the suspension bridge.
Pit toilets are located throughout the campground and day-use area. Flush toilets are located at the sani-station in the campground.
There is an adventure playground with barrier-free play structures included. There is also a nearby play field at the campground in this park.
A sani-station is located in the campground. The sani-station is closed in the winter season.
About this park
In the campground, each of the campsite posts identifies a tree, shrub or flower growing adjacent to the post or near the campsite.
Wildlife in Elk Falls Park includes a variety of small mammals and birds. Great blue herons, killdeer, glaucous-winged gulls, crows, chestnut-backed chickadees, golden-crowned kinglets and starlings are the most abundant resident bird species.
Mammals include deer, bears and cougars, as well as shrews, squirrels, voles, raccoons, mink, river otters, muskrat, and beaver. A beaver dam and pond are located west of the campground. Roosevelt elk also utilize portions of the park for winter range. Fish species include steelhead, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout, three spine stickleback, fresh water sculpin and chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by Quality Recreation Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
